Sorry I missed the last two weeks. My niece Lyrik Athena was born on the 19th and last week I was in and out of the doc with a hurt knee.

Today I’ll be continuing with my upcoming novella, Saying Goodbye. I’m still on schedule for an October 15, 2015 release date for this novel. I don’t have a synopsis for the novel yet (mostly because I haven’t bothered to sit down and write one), but in a nutshell this is a paranormal love story/love triangle about a ghost who is trying to find a way to stay on earth to be with the love of his life. In doing so, he introduces her to a man that she starts to fall in love with.

The following snippet is a continuation from the last week I posted and will end the first chapter.

“I look ridiculous,” she said, looking at herself in the mirror one last time, wishing she had gone with him to the costume shop to pick out something else and wishing she had more confidence in herself to wear the costume. She looked good, or at least she thought she did, but she feared that others would make fun of her. She was too old to be that self-conscious, but years spent as a chubby child with braces and glasses had made her unsure of herself, despite all the love and attention Michael showered over her.

“I’m sure you don’t. That’s the hottest costume I saw at the rental place, and you’re the hottest woman I know, both of those things mean you’ll be the hottest woman at the party.” His voice was so clear that she knew he was outside the door.

“Kiss ass,” she said, exiting the bathroom with a happy grin on her face. He knew just what to say to make her smile.

He whistled loudly and came off the edge of the bed where he had plopped when he heard the doorknob turn. “Now, that’s what I’m talking about.” He took a step toward her, then looked down at his watch and swore.

“We aren’t going to be that late,” she said, annoyed at his impatience. It was only six-thirty and the party didn’t officially start until seven, but most people wouldn’t be there until at least eight or nine. Only Michael and his friends would be there on time, and that was just to get to the food before everyone else got there.

Michael’s parents always sent over a bunch of food for the boys before these big parties. They knew the guys would drink, so they hoped filling them with food would keep them from getting too drunk. There were always snacks at the party, as well, but they tried to be there for the real stuff.

“It isn’t that,” he said, stepping up to her and wrapping her in his arms. “Seeing you that way has made me all tingly in my nether region. I really want to have my way with you before we go.”

“Oh no, you are so not getting me out of this get up until the end of the night. Besides, you’re the one who insisted that we go to this party, so we’re going to this thing. Get off me,” she said, half-heartedly pushing him off her with a laugh to stop him from going any further was his kisses, which were already trailing down her neck and making her head fuzzy.

“Okay, okay, let’s go. The sooner we get there, the sooner we can leave,” he said, throwing his hands up and backing away a bit, though the leering expression on his face told her what he wanted to do.

“Are you really that eager to get back home?” she said teasingly, turning at the door to look at him. “You’ve been waiting for this party all week. It’s all you’ve been talking about.”

“Shut up. I know I have, but I want you more than I want to be with my friends,” he said, reaching out to grab her behind. She jerked out of his way and flung open the front door.

Erica made a mental note to herself to purchase the costume and wear it whenever he wanted to go somewhere she didn’t want to go. She wondered if it would be a good enough distraction to get her out of having to sit through hours and hours of watching football on television.

“You need help,” she said, laughing and walking out into the hall.

He flung the lock on the door and chased her down the hall, out of the building, and down the street. She laughed as they passed a young woman pushing a stroller. The woman turned to watch them as Michael caught up with Erica, grabbed her from behind, lifted her into the air, and started tickling her. The woman’s two-year-old daughter giggled and pointed at them. The momentum of Erica trying to get away from him while laughing spun them on the spot, and Erica saw the wistful look on the mother’s face.

---

That is it for today. I hope you enjoyed it.

I think I’ve announced this already, but Resistant is scheduled to go on sale on the 26th of this month. I’m currently looking for beta readers, proofreaders, and well, mostly reviewers since a number of my betas have read through the novel already, so there shouldn’t been too many typos at this point. If anyone here is interested, email me at: jennifer.powell.reynolds@gmail.com

The first two chapters are live on Goodreads and you can add the novel to your Goodreads “to-read” list if you want. I’m so happy that five of my betas have already left me five star reviews. :) :)